Closed receptacle or case



June 30, 1942. L, RATHBUN 2,287,903

CLOSED RECEPTACLE OR CASE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 Patented June 30, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,903 CLOSED RECEPTACLE'ORCASVE- MerrillL. Rathbun, Salamanca, N. Y. Application August 1, 1940, Serial No.349,203 '1 Claim; (014220-41) This invention relates to an improvementin pivotal structures for closed receptacles.

One form of the invention discloses a recap tacle and cover havingcooperating pivotal elements held in operable pivotal relationship byone or more spring members. The spring members, being engaged withbothelementsof the receptacle, also serve to yieldingly secure theelements in relative opened or closed position.

Prior to this invention it has been the practice to apply this type ofpivotal structure to closed receptacles formed from hard materials,such, for example, as metal, thermo-setting plastics and the like. Thepresent trend in closed receptacle manufacture, particularly thatrelating to the jewelry or analogous trades, is to utilizea moldablematerial that is thermo-plastic; i. e., one that after being molded issomewhat soft and pliant. Through the use of thermo-setting plasticmaterial, the resulting articles Anotherobject of the invention is toprovide pivotal means for closed receptacles that includes one ormoresprings designed to secure the pivotal elements in operablerelationship and ineffective in use to wear, out into, or otherwisedamage the material from which the recep tacle may be formed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood and appreciated from a consideration of the .followingspecifica tion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; .andin which Figure .1 is a perspective view of a closed receptacleembodying one form of a pivotal structure constituting the subjectmatter of the pres ent invention; V

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through thereceptacle, being taken to show the pivotal structure;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the receptacle in openedposition;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the receptacle, partly in sectionto disclose certain of the structural details of the pivot elements;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of amodification of the receptacle, showing the elements thereof in closedposition;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the .elements'of thereceptacle in opened position; 1 1

Figures 7 and 8 are "enlarged front and side elevational views of oneform of spring embodied in the pivotal structure disclosed;

Figures 9 and 10'are front and side elevational views of a conventionalspring to the sharp gripping edges of which clips have been applied; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the spring and clip structure shownin Figures 9 and 10.

Reference is now had to. the drawing wherein the numeral H) is employed:to generally designate a receptaclein which is embodied one form of theinvention. The receptacle may be comprised of a body member H and cover[2. The body member includes conventional base, side and front walls,and a rear wall. 13. The upper edge of the rear wall may be formed witha bead M. In the present disclosure this bead is slightly rearwardlyofi'set'to'overhang the edge of wall !3. However, since the dispositionof this bead may control the degree of opening of the cover with respectto the body, it forms no specific part of the present disclosure.

Not only fromthe standpoint of economy, but for the sake of appearanceas Well, only the rear wall i3 is of substantial thickness as comparedwith the other walls of'the body I I. One or more recesses l6 are formedin the inner face of the wall It. The base wall I"! of each recess isformed with a shoulder [8 that provides a seat for one end of a springhereinafter described. From the shouldertlfl, the base wall I! may becontinued upwardly in a slightly laterally curved surface [9 thatterminates at the upper end of the Wall I3 in the bead M. The bead l4may 8X"? tend the full length of the wall l3, although this is notessential to the proper functioning of the invention.

The cover ['2 includes conventional top, side, and front walls, and arear wall 22 of the same proportions as wall l3 of the body ll. One ormore recesses 23, adapted to align with the recess I6, are formed in theinner face of the wall 22. The base wall 24 of the recess 23 is formedwith a shoulder 26 that provides a seat for the other end of a spring.From the shoulder 26 the base wall of the recess 23 maybe curvedtoterminate 'aclja.-

cent one edge of a recess 21 that may extend the full length of the wall22. In the present disclosure the rear edge of the recess 21 terminatesin a bead 28 projecting laterally beyond the outer face of the wall 22.This, it will be understood, serves in conjunction with certain portionsof the pivotal means to limit the extent of opening of the cover 12 withrespect to the body II.

A strap spring 29 serves to secure the pivotal parts of the body andcover in operable relationship. This spring is of a contoursubstantially that disclosed and terminates at its ends in flanges 3|that are somewhat return bent to provide surfaces 32 and roundedportions 33. The distance between the portions 33 is somewhat less thanthat between the shoulders 18 and 26. Consequently, the spring must beslightly extended to be engaged with the elements of the receptacle,and, when so engaged, is under sufficient tension to prevent inadvertentdisengagement. It is to be noted that the spring seats in the body andcover are of such proportions that when the spring is engaged therewith,the portions 33 contact the bases of the seats and the surfaces 32 abutthe base walls I1 and 24 when the elements of the receptacle are in theposition shown in Figure 2. The shoulders I8 and 26, when the receptacleis closed, are out of contact with the spring 29. When the cover movesfrom closed to opened position, substantially as shown in Figure 3, theportions 33 are free to rotate slightly on the spring seats withoutdamage thereto, and flanges 3| of the spring come into contact withshoulders I8 and 26.

As has already been mentioned, the invention is well adapted for usewith material of somewhat soft, pliant form, such, for example, as wouldbe readily cut through or chipped by contact with the sharp edge of astrap spring. By reason of the substantial amount of material interposedbetween the spring ends and because of the provision of rounded springends that rotate on their seats, the spring 29 is ineffective to breakoff or wear through the shoulders l8 and 26. Since the receptacle towhich the invention is applied is of relatively small proportions, itwould be possible to rotate the cover further and break or chip thespring seats. However, this is guarded against by causing the innersurface of the central portion of the spring to contact the bead I4 whenthe cover [2 assumes its openmost position. Additionally, the bead 28 ofthe cover cooperates for this purpose.

Reference is now had particularly to Figures and 6 wherein is discloseda modification of the structure already described. In this instance, therear walls 34 and 36 of the body and cover of a receptacle 35 terminatealong their adjacent edges in corresponding recesses 31 and 38. Springseats 39 and 4| are formed in the walls 34 and 36 in the mannerdescribed in connection with the disclosure in Figures 2 and 3. A pin orroller 42 is interposed between the surfaces 31 and 38 and substitutesfor the head [4 that is integral with the rear wall of the body I l ofthe receptacle already described. This pin may have a receptacle divider40 joined to or made integral therewith. A spring 43, similar to spring29, is engaged with the spring seats 39 and 4| and serves to hold theroller 42 in engagement with recesses 31 and The spring 43 additionally,when the receptacle is open, contacts the pin or roller 42 and serves asa stop to limit further opening of the cover with respect to the body.In both modifications described, it will be noted, with the cover fullyopened and the spring in contact with the bead or pin, that there isspace between a part of the inner face of the spring and the curvedsurfaces adjacent the spring seats and, at least insofar as the cover isconcerned, it could. be rotated slightly beyond the opened positionuntil the curved surfaces contacted the spring. While this position ofthe cover is beyond the position which the cover would normally assume,no damage to the elements of the receptacle would occur. The inventionis, therefore, well adapted to somewhat soft, pliant material, thespring seat positions and spring arrangement providing a safeguardagainst damage from improper operation of the cover.

The spring shown in Figures 7 and 8 is the same spring as indicated at29 and 43 in the modification already described. It is contemplatedunder certain circumstances of use of the invention that a conventionalspring, such as indicated at 44 (Figures 9 and 10), may be used. In thisinstance, the spring has sharply defined end flanges 46. These flanges,whilesuitable for engagement with metal spring seats or seats formedfrom suitably hard material, would cut into, wear, or break off springseats in a receptacle that is formed from somewhat soft and pliantmaterial. It is, therefore, desirable to enclose the flanges 46 byproviding substantially U-shaped clips 41. These clips have a somewhatrounded surface 48 that prevents their cutting into the material of thespring seats. The spring 44, when mounted in a receptacle of the typeillustrated, functions in the manner described.

It is evident from the foregoing that through the provision ofreinforced spring seats relocation of the seat positions with respect totheir center of rotation and a modified type of strap spring, a pivotalstructure of the pin and socket type may be successfully incorporated ina receptacle formed from somewhat soft, pliant material, and althoughapplicant has shown and described only two modifications of theapplicability of the invention, it will be understood that othermodifications or adaptations are contemplated insofar as they are withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the here untoannexed claim.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

In a closed receptacle having a body and cover, cooperating pivotalmeans on said body and cover, spring seats integral with said body andcover and within said receptacle adjacent said pivotal means andseparated thereby, each of said seats having two contact surfacesconnected by a rounded surface, the seat in said body comprising anoutwardly projecting shoulder defining a downwardly opening groove andthe seat in said cover comprising an outwardly projecting shoulderdefining an upwardly opening groove when said cover is in closedposition, a flat spring engageable with said seats and serving to securesaid pivotal means in operable relationship, each end of said springhaving two contact surfaces connected by a rounded surface, the roundedsurfaces being opposite and contacting the rounded surfaces of saidseats, whereby during movement of the cover to and from closed positiona rounded surface of said spring will rotate on the rounded surface ofsaid seats.

MERRILL L. RATHBUN.

